Chapter 245: The State of So's Number One Guard (3)
Sensitive animals can detect massive natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis in advance.
On this battlefield, only the Shadow King could feel it. He felt that something immense was approaching.
Although he could not identify what it was, he staked his final hope on it.
His body was in terrible shape, but he could not leave everything to his young protectors. He stood up with difficulty, leaning against the wall.
“Phew… Can you deploy the Limitless Three Talents Formation?”
The Limitless Three Talents Formation was a high-level formation mastered by the three finest assassins of the Shadow Gate.
Of course they knew it. Yeong-yeong and Baek Sang nodded simultaneously.
Although it was a formation they had trained in along with So-so, it was not difficult for their Master, Baek Ri-hyeon, to take her place.
Spreading his hands, a spear and a sword rolling on the ground flew into his grasp.
Thwack!
Supporting himself on the spear driven deep into the ground, he raised the sword in his right hand diagonally.
To his left and right, Yeong-yeong and Baek Sang took their positions, forming a triangle.
The Shadow King, Baek Ri-hyeon. His cold eyes, which had only ever contained frost, shone with a clear light for the first time.
“…As your Master, I command you. From this moment on, the name of the Shadow Gate no longer exists. Show the world… what the Black Cat Sect you created truly is.”
It was the final gift a dying man could give to his disciples.
It was unclear when his heart, which had dreamed of resurrecting the Shadow Gate, had changed. What was certain was that at this moment, he did not want to pass down the name of the Shadow Gate to these children. It was equivalent to telling them not to become assassins.
“Master…”
“Sniff…”
Though tears welled in their eyes, the children did not forget to maintain the formation.
Although it seemed like a formidable Three Talents Formation, to the Crimson Tiger soldiers, it looked laughable. It was composed of an injured master and two children.
Their commander gave the order to attack with a mocking gaze.
“This has taken far too much time. Finish it quickly.”
Once again, the crimson wave surged forward, initiating a relentless assault.
Jang-yang wanted to join and help, but knowing that his interference would only get in the way, he had no choice but to step back.
Clang! Clatter! Clash!
The sounds of clashing weapons echoed incessantly in all directions.
Standing at the front, Baek Ri-hyeon absorbed more than half of the onslaught with a single hand. Although his body was in a state where he could not take a single step, he managed to hold on because Baek Sang and Yeong-yeong covered his left and right.
Swinging his sword frantically, he asked them, “Can you hold on? If it becomes too difficult, flee!”
“Yes! What about you, Master?”
Baek Ri-hyeon was unaware that a smile was gracing his face.
Having walked the path of an assassin his entire life, he had forgotten how to smile, but now it did not look out of place.
Slash—!
Cutting a charging Crimson Tiger soldier in two, he shouted with failing strength, “Hold on a little longer!”
“Yes!”
Yeong-yeong and Baek Sang shouted back, but their voices were weaker than before.
Although they were exceptionally talented children who had experienced fortuitous encounters, each Crimson Tiger soldier was comparable to a first-rate martial artist.
It would not be surprising if they collapsed at any moment. And finally, disaster struck.
Squelch!
“Ugh!”
A sword blade protruded from Baek Ri-hyeon’s back. The Crimson Tiger commander had made his move.
Immediately after, the commander’s foot kicked Baek Ri-hyeon’s chest.
The formation shattered instantly, and he flew two zhang before crashing against the wall of the hall.
BOOM!
Unable to watch any longer, Jang-yang gripped his sword with both hands and stepped in front of Baek Ri-hyeon.
He tried to say something, but no voice came out.
Jang-yang nodded toward him as if he understood.
“You have worked hard to protect me. This is the only way I can repay you.”
“…”
As the Crimson Tiger commander marched forward, Yeong-yeong and Baek Sang shrank back, retreating.
“Bratty pests, wait your turn.”
He had no interest in Yeong-yeong and Baek Sang. His primary objective was to eliminate Jang-yang.
Jang-yang raised his sword to his shoulder, taking a stance, but he knew he could not hold out for even a second.
Just as the distance between them closed to one zhang.
Baek Ri-hyeon, who was collapsed against the wall, suddenly began to laugh.
“Heh… hehe…”
It was the first time he had ever laughed aloud as an assassin.
Though he groaned in pain, he did not stop laughing.
The Crimson Tiger commander looked at him, perplexed.
“What is so funny?”
Instead of answering, Baek Ri-hyeon raised a trembling right hand, pointing his forefinger.
Suddenly, a strange chill crept up the commander’s spine. At that moment, the angry voice of a young girl echoed from somewhere.
“Who beat up our Master?”
Everyone’s eyes converged on a single spot.
About twenty zhang away, a young girl was riding a massive tiger, approaching with giant strides.
ROOOAAAR—!
The Mountain Lord open its jaws wide, baring its fangs in a terrifying display.
Even more shocking was the child riding on its back. A faint golden halo seemed to envelop her head. Despite her small stature, she exuded an aura that could overwhelm ten thousand men.
The Crimson Tiger commander asked warily, “Who are you?”
So-so did not need to answer, for an angry shout erupted from the right.
“The Maitreya has arrived! If you do not wish to fall into the fires of purgatory, confess your sins at once!”
It was Zen Master Jeong-un, a high monk of the Shaolin Temple. He stood in formation alongside hundreds of young elites of the Alliance of Righteous Sects, whom everyone thought had retreated.
Not only that, but patrol guards also arrived from the left with reinforcements, ready to charge.
Although the tide was turning, the Crimson Tiger soldiers did not back down.
“No matter how many rabble you bring, you cannot stop us.”
So-so scowled, her brow furrowing as she squealed, “We are not rabble!!!”
“What an insolent brat.”
“You’re the uncle who beat up our Master, right?”
The Crimson Tiger commander sneered and nodded. Then, he suddenly spun around to launch a surprise attack on Jang-yang.
Squelch!
A sword blade pierced a chest. A single groan escaped the lips of the victim.
“Ugh.”
It was Baek Ri-hyeon who had taken the blow instead. Summoning his last ounce of strength, he had thrown himself in front of Jang-yang.
His sheer tenacity made even the Crimson Tiger commander flinch.
“This bastard, until the very end…”
The commander tried to pull his sword out, but it did not budge. Baek Ri-hyeon had gripped the blade with both hands.
Clutch!
A powerful resolve shone in his eyes, refusing to let go no matter what.
‘Now, So-so… Quick… save Min-gong.’
Receiving Baek Ri-hyeon’s gaze, So-so kicked off the Mountain Lord’s back and flew like an arrow.
She dashed across the shoulders of the Crimson Tiger soldiers like a bolt of lightning.
Whoosh!
“I won’t forgive you!”
Sensing a terrifying presence behind him, the Crimson Tiger commander panicked.
As he exerted all his strength, Baek Ri-hyeon was forced to release his grip.
Withdrawing his sword, the commander turned to face So-so, determined not to be overwhelmed by her aura.
In the blink of an eye, the distance between them closed.
And the moment she was within five zhang, So-so leaped, stepping on the head of a nearby Crimson Tiger soldier.
Her small body soared as if to pierce the clouds, spinning in midair before reversing her stance.
The Crimson Tiger commander also leaped into the air to meet her, but it was the greatest mistake of his life. A giant palm materialized in the sky along with a loud shout.
“Yah!”
RUMBLE—!!!
Ten Thousand Buddhas Bowing to the Source, a supreme stance of the Tathagata Divine Palm. The palm of the Buddha descended like a heavenly punishment.
Its lightning-like speed left no room for escape. In desperation, the commander unleashed his sword qi toward the sky, but it was instantly obliterated.
‘What on earth…’
An expression of utter disbelief filled his eyes as he witnessed the scene.
Immediately after, the giant golden palm swallowed him whole, smashing him into the ground.
BOOM—!!!
The earth shook violently, sending nearby Crimson Tiger soldiers flying into the air.
“Ugh!”
“Agh!”
Even those further away stumbled, unable to maintain their balance.
The commander of the Crimson Tiger Corps was nowhere to be seen. He had been driven over one zhang deep into the hand-shaped crater. Trapped in the pit, he foamed at the mouth, his entire body convulsing.
With such mind-boggling strength, an Extreme Demonic master had been neutralized in a single strike.
Everyone who witnessed this was left speechless.
However, hundreds of Crimson Tiger soldiers still remained. Facing them, So-so clenched her fists. At that moment, the Crimson Tiger soldiers, who supposedly knew no fear, flinched.
As So-so was about to attack them, she was jolted by a groan behind her.
“Ugh…”
The Master of the Shadow Gate. No, the Master of the Black Cat Sect—his body was slowly collapsing.
So-so froze as she faced him. He looked so haggard it was a miracle he was still alive.
Tears welled up, but her mind went blank, and she could not think of what to say. His breath was fading rapidly.
At that moment, So-so saw his smile. The happiest smile in the world.
‘It was the happiest time for me. Every single day I spent with you all…’
His eyes slowly closed, and his upper body slumped forward.
“No!”
So-so caught his neck as he collapsed.
His tattered black robes were ruined. Seeing the red-stained rabbit embroidery on his back, a wave of intense sorrow washed over her.
Yeong-yeong and Baek Sang also rushed over, hugging Baek Ri-hyeon and weeping.
And it was not just the children who grieved.
A moment later, a choked voice came from behind.
“…Could you give this grandfather a moment with him?”
They had never seen Jang-yang look so sorrowful.
The children also knew that these two were the ones who had spent the most time together.
As the children stepped back, Jang-yang, his eyes red, gently lifted him in his arms. He began to walk toward somewhere with heavy steps.
He did not even glance at the Crimson Tiger soldiers. There was no need to, for new reinforcements had arrived.
Four martial artists exuding extraordinary auras were walking toward them.
They were the absolute masters of the Alliance of Righteous Sects who had come to reinforce this place at So-mu’s request.
Though their presence had been overshadowed by So-mu, each of them was a formidable figure ranked among the top ten masters of the martial world.
With them launching their attack simultaneously, the Crimson Tiger soldiers stood no chance.
Seeing the enemy formation crumble instantly, the patrol guards and the young elites of the Alliance of Righteous Sects joined the fray, surrounding them.
“Kill them all!!!”
The situation was completely reversed and quickly brought under control.
Leaving them behind, Jang-yang ran toward somewhere.
Although the sounds of clashing weapons and screams echoed continuously behind him, he could not afford to look back.
“I have not permitted your death. Open your eyes, my friend. If you leave like this, what does that make me?”
Where he was heading was the Eiseondang Hall. Even though he knew recovery was impossible, he could not discard his final hope.
The children of the Black Cat Sect followed behind Jang-yang.
“Grandfather, what do we do? Can our Master live?”
“Please save him. Sniff…”
“Wahhh…”
The children’s weeping made Jang-yang’s heart ache even more.
The only thing he could offer was words of comfort.
“Do not be too sad. He… he will remain in your hearts forever…”